Automobile-wheel.



J. H. ANDREWS & J. W. EROSKI. AUTOMOBILE WHEEL.

` APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 17, 1909. 991,045.

Patented May 2, 1911.

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J. H. ANDREWS & J. 'WjBRosK'IQ AUTOMOBILE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1909. A99 l @45., Patented May 2, 1911.

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.JAMES EL ANDREWS Annaonn w. vBaosm; orlnlcnmonn..vineinag serio VBansin .ass'IGNoR 4or*onnnrcrrmn `ortnis RIGHT v'ro CLAUDE n; Davis, on .nrcn'rrionn VIRiGi-IN'ALmf` j.To all 'whomv'it may concern:

States, residing at Richmond, in the countyl of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile-VVheels7 of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to an improved construction of automobile wheel, the object of the invention being to provide a novel construction of sectional wheel with removable sectional rim and simple and effective fastening means therefor, by which a punctured orotherwise injured tire may be readilyv and conveniently removed and a new tire quickly substituted in its place and ifirmly secured in position without liability of injuryto such new tire in the operationof applying the same. 1 i

The inventionv consists-of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter. -'ullyv described and claimed, reference being had ato" the accompanyingdrawings, in which c Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially in section,`.of an automobile'wlieel embodying our invention; Figs'.` 23nd 3 are horizontal transverse sections thereof taken at different 'points through the wheel. Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views of the rim sections separated.

Fig. 6 is a similar viewof the reinforcing band. Fig.A 7 is a longitudinal section through one of the joints of the felly with the rim applied. Fig. 8. is aperspective view of one of the Ufshaped brackets. Fig.

v 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the rim, showing'one of the sets of locking re` cesses and lugs in the rim` sections. Fig. 10

is a 4perspective viewl of a locking `plate to fit within said recess and engage said lugs.

Fig. 1'1 is a perspectiveview of one of the devices for holding the adjust-ing screws fromrotation f Referring to 'thedrawingsy 1 designates the hub of the wheeh-wliich may be of any suitable constructiongfand which embodies 'oppositely arranged clamping plates 2 united by bolts :or-rivets, and between which the inner "ends v:of fthe spokes 4 are clamped, which ends of the spokes may also be secured directly to thehub in any-preferred manner. The outer-'ends of the'spokes are suitably connected with a fellywhich iscomposed of two or more sections aand 6, having 'their i Application Vfiled March 17, *1909.v Serial No. 483,882.

. AUtMBIPE-.WHEE'LL j adjacent ends slightly spa-cedI apartlto admitoffa determined amount of contraction and expansion thereof'. To the outer surface ofthe felly is applied a lstrengthening band 7 whichis split transversely1 at one point to form afslot S in alinement with onejofthe at one-side of the wheel and toadaptsaid band to contract andeXpandy with the felly.

The ends of the; felly at leach point of division arel formed with sockets ,or lrecesses 9, within which are seated U-shaped brackets 10 each secured to the overlying .0r adjacent portion ofi-the band Tby a screw brot-her suitable fastening 11 passingt-hrough its cross-piece., ,The brackets .are held. from rotationin theI sockets by 'jrnaking the latterv of rectangular rshape:andV are provided in `their spaced arms 'or plates with. openings 12 for thefres fectivepassage of the opposite ends of an al justin'gfscrew 13, which'ends'v of the scievwjare'riight and left threaded for cooperation with correspondingly j threaded nuts 14arrfan'gedwithinA the brackets .and held from Vrotatioh byl the Jwalls ofthe sockets, the inner ends ofwhich latter are formed withrreeesses 15 communicating withy the openings in the bracket `4plates forfthe passage ofthe ends of theJ screw when `thefelly is contracted. ``The centrallportionfof the screw vis 'formed with a rectangular head 13 arranged in the division space between the sockets, s'o that a. .wrenchor other proper `tool may beinserted `into saidspaceto turn the screw in one direction'or the other for contraction or J expansion of l,the 'felly.

A channeled rim 16 is provided to snugly fit the outer face of-the plate 7, and is centrally lTdivided circumfe'rentially `to form a pair lof. counterpartections -17 and 18 each having at itsouteredge ahooked flange or bead 19 to receive and engage coacting retaining iianges on-the `pneui'nati'c tire-20. which seats within; `the channel of the rim formed by. said hooked flanges or beads. The rim Sectionsane provided at their inner edges withreduced flanges 21 forming a lap joint, and the rim section 17 is. formed at its outer side with azshoulderQQ to engage an annular retaining ia'nge or lip 23 formed on one sideof the band 7j, forajpurpose hereinaiterdescribed.` which bandje secured at intervals to theA fellyby fasteningbolts having their'lieads countersunk 4`in` the face ofthe band to allow the rim to abut squarely spaces.between the ndsofthe fell'y sections ing action.

against the same. The rim sections are adapted to be applied to the body of the wheel when the latter is in a contracted condition and to be held against displacement ent instance, is provided at intervals around its circumference with inwardly projecting retaining .tongues or fingers to enter transverse recesses 26 formed conjomtly 1n .the outer surfaces of the felly sections and the inner face of the band 7, said tongues or fingers also servin to hold the said rim section against circumferential movement on the felly rand thus preventthe same from slipping. The inner faces of the rim sections are also provided at suitable intervals with matching U-shaped recesses 27 opening through their inner edges and lcoacting to form a seat'or socket, and within each of said recesses is arranged a retaining lug or projection 28. When the rim sections are assembled, thelugs of each set abut and the recesses register to provide a rectangular socketat thecenter of which the lugs are disposed. An open rectangular locking plate 29 is provided to seat within each socket so formed andreceivethc lugs 28 which fit withinfhe opening therein. The

`locking plates lie flush when applied with-- in a surfaceof the rim and bear against the band 7by which they are held in positiom. and they thus serve to prevent relative lateral or transverse movement and disconnection of' the rim sections and also coact with the tongues or 'fingers 25 to prevent circumferential movement thereof on the felly.

In the application of the rim and tire to the wheel, the rim sections are first as` sembled and the tire seated Within the channel thereof, the locking plates 29- inserted within their receiving sockets in which they are frictionally held, the rim arranged on the side of the band-7. opposite that on which the lip 23 is formed and with the tongues or fingers 25 in registry .with the recesses 26 at that side of the wheel,'and then the rim is slid laterally across theband 7 until the shoulder 22 engages the lip 23. In this operation, of course, the felly is in a contracted condition through the proper prior adjustment of the screws 13, which, as soon as the rim is fully seated in position, are reversely adjusted to expand the felly and thus clamp the rim and tire firmly and-'securely in position. In order to remove-a punctured or defective tire, it will be understood that it is simply necessary to conlnecessary to inflate the tire.

tract the felly, whereupon the rim and tire may be easily and expeditiouslyvl slipped off. Y v The slotted portion 8 of the band 7 'faces` one of the sets of sockets 9 and registers with alined openings 30 formed in the rim sections, through which openings and the slot in the-band the valved inflating tube 81 of the tire is'designed to extend into-the space between the sockets, to provide for its proper protection from injury ant. enable it to be conveniently reached when it is In practice, however, the tire is preferably-inflated upon the rim before the-latter is applied to the felly, so as to avoid the necessity of inflation after application unless the tire becomes deflated `through leakage and it is necessary to inflate the same while in position forvemergehcy use. y i

A substantially U-shaped clip or cover plate 32 is provided to close the space between each respective set .of socketed ends of the folly sections and to protect the coacting adjusting screw and associated parts fromdust and dirt and theaction of the elements. The bightl portion of this clip or cover plate fits against the inner faces of the felly ends, while the side pieces or plates thereof, vwhich preferably taper toward their free ends, cover the opposite sides of the felly-'ends and are preferably secured thereto by screws or other suitable fastening det vices 33, and the said free ends of said side pieces or plates are provided with extensions 3-1 to bear against the rim sections and cl'ose the sides of the slot S" in the band 7. It will be understood from the foregoing description that in order lto inflate the tire while on the Wheel, it is simply necessary to remove the adjacent cover plate, while in contracting or expanding ut'he felly both cover plates arel detached for adjustment of the screws to secure a uniform degree of expansion and contraction.

By ymeans of our improved construction of wheel. provision is made for'the ,ready and quick a plication and removal of the tire and its rm retention in position without the use of fastening devices of a character liable to weaken the-Wheel. In the application of a new tire in placev of a puncturcd or otherwise injured tire in use, it. will be understood that the rim and tire may be detached from the wheel, the -old tire removed from the rim and a new-tire Vseated upon the rim and "applied with the latterv to the wheel, but, ifdesired, a vehicle may be equipped with extra rims having tires applied thereto, so' that a new tire may be quickly applied to take .the placeof an old one without the necessity of going to the time and trouble of detaching the old tire from lits rim.`

' If desired, a device, such as shown in detail in Fig. 11, may be employed to hold c shoulder 37 on the' telly. This plate 35.

carries a pair ot fingers 38 which project on opposite sides ot the head 13 ot the screw 13 to hold the latter trom turning in either direction. vUpon detaching the clip 32 the locking plate may be swung outward to withdraw the tingers 38 and allow the screw to be turned.

Having thus tully 'described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

l. In a vehicle wheel, a demountable rim comprising a pair ot cireumterentially divided sections, said sections having theirinner tacesprovided at suitable intervals with substantially U-shaped recesses opening through their inner edges and lugs within said recesses and coacting therewith to torm a rectangular socket surrounding said lugs, and an lopen rect-angular locking plate adapted to seat within said socket and to receive said lugs to connect the rim sections against relative lateral and circumferential movements. A

' 2. In a vehicle wheel, an expansible telly having transverse sockets, means tor expanding and contracting said telly, and a rim adapted to be held upon the telly by trictional engagement therewith when said telly is expanded and to be released tor removal when said tellyis contracted, said ri-m having transverse tongues to interlock with said transverse sockets.

3. The combination in a vehicle wheel, ot a telly, having a shoulder ,at one side and inwardly extending transverse sockets 'at its opposite side,'a rim slidably applicable and removable trom the latter-named side ot the telly, said rim having a shoulder thereon at one side to engage the shoulder on the telly and a series ot transverse tongues extending inwardly trom its opposite side to engage said transverse sockets in the telly, and means tor holding the rim against lateral movement toward the side ot the telly trom which it is applied, whereby upon the release ot said holding means the rim may'b'eslidably withdrawn trom the telly.

'4. A wheel having a divided telly termed with sockets in the ends ot the sections thereot, U-shaped bracket plates mounted in said sockets and having openings in the arms thereot, non-rotatable nuts held between the arms ot the bracket plates, right and lett hand adjusting screws passing through the openings in the bracket plates and engaging the nuts tor coaction therewith to expand and contract the telly, a removable rim upon the telly and adapted to be held thereon bythe expansion thereot, and a tire carried by said rim.

5. A wheel having a divided telly termedv with sockets in the ends ot the sections thereot, U-shaped bracket plates mounted in said sockets and having openings in the arms thereot, non-rotatable nuts held between the arms ot the bracket plates, right and letthand adjusting screws passing through the openings in the bracket plates and engaging the nutstor coaction therewith to expand' and contract the telly, covers tor closing the spaces between the ends ot the telly, means coacting therewith to hold the adjusting screws tnom rotation, a removable rim upon the telly` adapted to be held thereon by the expansion thereot, and. a tire carried by said rim. v

6. A wheel having a divided telly tormed with sockets in the ends ot the sections thereot, U-shaped bracket plates mounted in said sockets and having openings in the arms thereot, non-rotatable nuts held between the arms ot the bracket plates, right and lett hand adjusting screws passing through the openings 1n the bracket plates andengaglng the nuts tor coaction therewith to expand and contract the telly, covers tor closing the spaces between the ends ot the telly, a. movablev detent having fingers to engage and hold the screw trom rotation. a removable rim upon the telly adapted to be held thereon by the expansion thereot, and a tire carried by said rim.

7. The combination vttith a vehicle wheel` having a contractible and expansible telly,

said telly having spaced ends, otftan adjusting screw having reverse threaded engagement with said ends tor expanding and contracting said telly, a cover plate closing the space between the telly ends at each side thereot, and a retaining" plate pivoted to the telly and adapted to interlock therewith and provided with iingers arranged to engage the screw to hold it trom rotation.

In testimony whereotwe atiix our signatures in presence ot two witnesses.

`JAMES H. ANDREWTS.

JCI-IN W7. EROSKI. Vitnesses:

J. T. PolNDEx'rnR, vA. C. PORTER.

Copies of this patent may 'be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

